HIDDEN SECRETS
(Prologue/teaser)
(edged in a black mist, darkest at edges)
FEAR. (Terrified bleeding fox keidran)
LOVE. (Lor’s mother holds him in her arms (lor is 3))
ANGER. (a templar angrily prepares to bring his sword down, a shout on his face)
SECRECY. (a gloved hand creates a illusion)
These qualities give us strength. (a door flies down, kicked by a templar, onto the fox trying to hold it shut, who scrambles to get away as it falls)
And are our weakness (the templar who brought down the door, is attacked by a fox)
HIDDEN SECRETS (Comic title) (Skip (Orange hair, 14, no acne) pulls his hood down over his head and holds the center shut with his other hand, while Lor (14, Orange hair, build similar to that of Skip) stands back to back with Skip, sword in paws)
Chapter 1: Pricey buys
Spoiler!
He looked over the room one last time.He pushed his orange hair out of the way, looking to see if he had left anything behind. He grabbed the pouch of coins that sat on the dresser/mirror thingy. the rattle of coins could be heard from it. He double checked the total, just to be sure. He double checks his pack, determined to forget nothing. He slings his pack over shoulder, one of the straps broken. He pulls a mana necklace from under his shirt, checking the crystals for impurities. one is cracked, so he takes it off the necklace, and pockets it. Memory seems to engulf him for a moment.
"Sorry V'yip. you knew I had to leave eventually..."
He shakes his head, freeing himself from the bad memory. He tucks the necklace back under his shirt.
"Now, to get a house"
"Shut up, you" he said to open air. He looks at the bed one last time.
"Glad I'm finally getting a real one"
He exits the tavern looking at the sign. It reads Sleazo Inn. He snorts in amusement.
"That's a step up don't ya think?" he said to open air. He paused in place, as if he got a reply
He looks away from the Inn for the last time, to see the view that waited. Looking down the hill he could see the entire city. Nav' Shira, (Nahv sheerah) sister-city to Nav' Shidav' (Nahv Shidahv) with some backstory about two brothers he didn't bother listening to. He walked down the hill and into the city. they really weren't cities, but rather large towns. still, they were called cities.
He passed cobbled buildings and shops, hearing the bustle of the street. Suddenly he heard something to his left. He tried to push it off as street bustle, but something made him think otherwise.
<No! Get off me!> Cried out a Keidran voice. He paused in his steps. He had heard the voice of a girl. there was something deep to it, like that of a wolf's. he looked down the narrow street to see what he had heard. there, at the end of the street, A Keidran tried to fight off two men, and it was clear that it was their job to keep her in her cage, in witch they had failed. She fought viciously, but the men had a trick. while she fought one, the other rushed to a hook on the wall. There were other cages housing Keidran, all of which were occupied by Keidran cheering the girl on.
Crack! a leather whip cracked in the air, making the girl freeze. she slowly inched back into the cage, eyes on the man with the whip.
All of the Keidran in the other cages went silent, not one dared to oppose the whip.
the boy tried to continue on his way, but something stopped him.
"Just let me go already!"
"No" said the voice, same but different.
"Well why not!"
"You do remember why you speak Keidran, right?"
He puts his hand around his necklace. He looked back to the girl, eyes trained on her brown fur, seemingly debating whether she was worth the purchase.
"Oh Come on! We're not trying to play Achibach here!" said the voice.
"Shut up! you may have been here for those years but not all of them!"
"And what'd I miss?"
The boy does not reply
"That's what I thought"
The boy storms down the alley.
"I'm only doing this so you shut up!"
The voice is now silent, leaving the boy with an uneasy feeling.
The boy walks up to the two men
"How much is she?"
"Get lost" said the man returning the whip to the wall
"I can pay" Says the boy, bringing out his pouch. the attitude of the men changed, and one immediately got down to work.
"I'll get a shackle," he said, walking away.
"And I'll get my boss to handle the paperwork"
The girl watches from the cage. she cocks her head at her soon to be boy master.
<My name is Skip, your's is?>
<Huh?> confusion crosses her face
<My name is Skip, What is yours?>
<P-Poppy>
"Over here boy"
The Keidran in the other cages whisper to each other a hint of anger in their tones. Poppy's ears prick, picking up the whispers
<he's buying her? she's been here for years because no-one wants her!>
<I Deserve to take her place! At least I'm more attractive!>
<No, I am!>
An argument breaks out from the two women, and quickly escalates into a fight. Or however you fight from separate cages. the whip cracks again
"Silence! Or ya'll are going back in the basement!" says a 16-year old holding the whip. the noise plummets to an all time low for the alley, in exclusion of submissive whimpers.
"That's better. Now, where's the street rat who thinks he can afford a slave?"
"he's over there boss" Points the man, holding a shackle.
Damn it! I'm buying her from Achibach!?
Achibach, the 16 year-old, shows no sign of recognizing Skip. Skip sighs in relief.
"Come into my office, we will negotiate the sale"
Skip follows Achibach through a door and into the room, where Achibach's love of slavery is obvious. A slave tends a kitchen, while another brings in wood to fuel the stove. Another slave tends to cleaning the room, to the amusement of two men who keep spilling their drinks. there was even a slave Spit-polishing the desk, who Achibach promptly waves away. He pulls papers out of a drawer, and sets them on the desk.
He brushes dust off of them.
"She'll run you... 20 boranze"
"Really? you could have just said one silver piece" Says Skip, drawing a silver piece from his pouch. He slides it across the desk to Achibach. he snatches it. Skip signs the papers, replenishing the ink when needed.
"It'll run you another piece for a slave shackle"
"I can do without"
"Fine. but first, she needs to be taught a lesson"
Achibach wraps cloth around his hands, and grabs a tasseled whip from the wall
beside him. the ends of the tassels are stained with something anyone can imagine. I'll give you a hint: When dried, it becomes crusty. it is a deep red, and is found naturally in your body.
"What are you doing?" asked Skip, following, putting papers into his pack.
"Naughty pets need to be treated as such. you wouldn't understand, boy"
This time in the alley, Skip noticed something. a set of four shackles were built into a wall. The men seemed to have known what Achibach was doing, and brought out Poppy. when she was brought to the shackles she realized what was happening. she tried to fight it, but the man clamped on the control shackle, eliminating all resistance. the other guy locked her into the wall shackles. they both backed off, and Achibach wound up his arm.
Crack! Poppy cried out as the whip cracked
Crack! again, another cry
Crack! This time, she whimpered
She collapsed, arms held up by the shackles the men released her, and removed the control shackle. her bare back was now coated in blood, and she was almost out of it
"Now take her and get"
"Wha- you can't really expect me to buy a bleeding Keidran!?"
"You signed the papers, she's yours. now get out of my alley" Achibach re-enters the office. the men take guard of the cages, whose occupants are silent, for fear of the whip.
Skip approaches Poppy slowly, she looks at him, face engulfed in pain.
<Wh-why?>
<Shhh... rest> he waves his hand over her, a blue fog appearing around his hand. She shuts her eyes, but pain still controls her expression. He calmly lifts her up on a magical stretcher. her back faces up, still bleeding.
Later...
Poppy rests in a tavern bed, back facing up. Skip has treated her wounds, and wrapped them. She slowly comes too, trying to remember what had happened. she rolls over. a tinge of pain clamped at her, but it was no-where close to the day before. still, she cried out and sat up swiftly.
where? where am I?
she asked herself rubbing her head. she looked around the room, trying to figure
out where she was. the walls where a light grey, a single bed, 1 chair, and one of those dresser/mirror thingies. Then Skip walked in the door, carrying a small tray. there was a drink and a small meal on it, the smell already teasing Poppy. the last time she'd had a warm meal was years ago.
Skip set the tray on the nightstand beside the bed.
<Morning> he says
<Morning?> Poppy says rubbing her wrists.
<where... where are my shackles?>
<I took em' off. they wouldn't have done anything for you> Says Skip, handing her a warm drink. she took it in her hands, gently sipping it. it was sweet but bitter, kind of reminding her of coffee. Skip offered the plate, which she took hungrily. she set herself upon the bacon and eggs, saving the applesauce.
Meanwhile, Skip sets to organizing his pack. He pulls the cracked crystal from his pocket. He sets it beside two unknown herbs, and then puts them all into a small bowl, and mashes them together into a lotion. it is turquoise, and slightly fogs.
Poppy picks up the applesauce and is about to eat it, but Skip stops her. He takes it and puts something in it.
<What did you just do?>
<Painkiller herb. it'll make sure what I do next doesn't hurt like hell>
<What is next?>
<I'm gonna have to unwrap you, and put this on> he says holding up the bowl. Poppy tentatively sniffs it. she gags from the smell.
<What is that?>
<A Keidran healer. I... learned it from a friend. it'll make sure the wound gets sealed and make sure you'll still have fur. though, I can't say whether the scars'll go away>
Poppy eats the applesauce, and licks her lips.
<Can you lay down on your front on the bed?> Poppy lays back down on the bed
<Why didn't you do this when I was asleep?>
<It would have hurt a lot more.> he gently begins to peel away the wrappings. Poppy twitches, tail giving a flick of pain.
<How long will it take to work?>
<About a few hours, but you'll be able to walk and do stuff. it won't hurt> Skip begins to rub in the lotion, careful not to push on the long slashes left behind from the whip.
<So where are we going, Master?>
Skip winced at being called master.
<Just call me Skip. My first thing will be getting your papers filed>
<Then what?>
<Dunno.>
<Then why'd you buy me?>
<I'd be lying if I told you I knew>
Confusion crosses her face, but she does not question him. she looks at Skip's pack while he continues to apply the lotion. something in it catches her eye.
<What's that?> she asked, pointing to a book written in Keidran.
<Huh?>
<Molaruna, the invisible city> reads Poppy
<oh, that. just a Keidran fairy tale> Said Skip, wrapping Poppy back up
At the trade office...
Skip sits at a desk, and Poppy stands beside him. the clerk hands a set of papers to Skip.
"Thank you" Skip looks over them. He had made copies of Poppy's papers, in exclusion of his signature. He hands his pack to Poppy
"Can you sew?"
"Yes sir"
"Can you sew the strap back?"
"I will sir"
Poppy sets to sewing while a dark 16-year old presence watches.
What are they doing?
When Poppy finishes, she hands the pack back.
"Thank you" Says Skip, plopping a silver coin in her hand.
"Huh?"
Skip whispers into her ear, "Just play along"
She nods, but still has no idea what's happening
"Now hand me the coin"
"uhm... okay" she says handing the coin back, confusion once again instilling itself in her.
"And sign these" Said Skip, handing her the papers.
"I only can sign in Keidran" she said, handing them back
"I can read Keidran, so you can sign them," Said Skip, handing them back to her.
The dark presence realizes what Skip is doing, and he is filled with rage.
He can't do that!
The presence slinks back to his office and rallies his men, bringing forth cries of anger and swords. the cries of grown men outraged at the actions of a singular teenager fill the streets.
"Here." Poppy hands the now signed papers to Skip. he hands them to the clerk. the clerk adjusts his glasses and reads the papers.
"Congratulations Poppy" Said Skip, putting his pack back on
"Congratulations what?"
"You just bought yourself. so, you're free"
"One Poppy, sold to... Poppy" reads the clerk
"And that makes it official"
Poppy just sits there, letting it all sink in.
I-I'm free!? just like that?
Crash! Skip turns around to see a rock amidst a smashed window. the clerk is frantic
"This is my store! I-" a rock nails him in the forehead. He collapses, eyes a pair of xs.
"Crap!" Skip narrowly dodges a rock, stealing a glimpse out the broken window. a
mob rushes to them, led by Achibach. Skip ducks, and crawls to Poppy, who is still sitting in shock.
<hey. you still want to be free?> asked Skip, dodging another rock
<Is... is this a joke?>
<Does it look like one? I mean, would I really send a hoard of men after myself just because I freed a slave?>
<No>
<Then grab my arm and we can get out of here!> she didn't know where they were going to go. the whole building was surrounded!
<There's no-where to go!> She said as she grabbed his arm in fear
<There is somewhere we can go!> then, the process of teleportation started. they began to fragmentate into pixels, starting from their feet and quickly working it's way up, until they are gone.
"Sorry V'yip. you knew I had to leave eventually..."
He shakes his head, freeing himself from the bad memory. He tucks the necklace back under his shirt.
"Now, to get a house"
"Shut up, you" he said to open air. He looks at the bed one last time.
"Glad I'm finally getting a real one"
He exits the tavern looking at the sign. It reads Sleazo Inn. He snorts in amusement.
"That's a step up don't ya think?" he said to open air. He paused in place, as if he got a reply
He looks away from the Inn for the last time, to see the view that waited. Looking down the hill he could see the entire city. Nav' Shira, (Nahv sheerah) sister-city to Nav' Shidav' (Nahv Shidahv) with some backstory about two brothers he didn't bother listening to. He walked down the hill and into the city. they really weren't cities, but rather large towns. still, they were called cities.
He passed cobbled buildings and shops, hearing the bustle of the street. Suddenly he heard something to his left. He tried to push it off as street bustle, but something made him think otherwise.
<No! Get off me!> Cried out a Keidran voice. He paused in his steps. He had heard the voice of a girl. there was something deep to it, like that of a wolf's. he looked down the narrow street to see what he had heard. there, at the end of the street, A Keidran tried to fight off two men, and it was clear that it was their job to keep her in her cage, in witch they had failed. She fought viciously, but the men had a trick. while she fought one, the other rushed to a hook on the wall. There were other cages housing Keidran, all of which were occupied by Keidran cheering the girl on.
Crack! a leather whip cracked in the air, making the girl freeze. she slowly inched back into the cage, eyes on the man with the whip.
All of the Keidran in the other cages went silent, not one dared to oppose the whip.
the boy tried to continue on his way, but something stopped him.
"Just let me go already!"
"No" said the voice, same but different.
"Well why not!"
"You do remember why you speak Keidran, right?"
He puts his hand around his necklace. He looked back to the girl, eyes trained on her brown fur, seemingly debating whether she was worth the purchase.
"Oh Come on! We're not trying to play Achibach here!" said the voice.
"Shut up! you may have been here for those years but not all of them!"
"And what'd I miss?"
The boy does not reply
"That's what I thought"
The boy storms down the alley.
"I'm only doing this so you shut up!"
The voice is now silent, leaving the boy with an uneasy feeling.
The boy walks up to the two men
"How much is she?"
"Get lost" said the man returning the whip to the wall
"I can pay" Says the boy, bringing out his pouch. the attitude of the men changed, and one immediately got down to work.
"I'll get a shackle," he said, walking away.
"And I'll get my boss to handle the paperwork"
The girl watches from the cage. she cocks her head at her soon to be boy master.
<My name is Skip, your's is?>
<Huh?> confusion crosses her face
<My name is Skip, What is yours?>
<P-Poppy>
"Over here boy"
The Keidran in the other cages whisper to each other a hint of anger in their tones. Poppy's ears prick, picking up the whispers
<he's buying her? she's been here for years because no-one wants her!>
<I Deserve to take her place! At least I'm more attractive!>
<No, I am!>
An argument breaks out from the two women, and quickly escalates into a fight. Or however you fight from separate cages. the whip cracks again
"Silence! Or ya'll are going back in the basement!" says a 16-year old holding the whip. the noise plummets to an all time low for the alley, in exclusion of submissive whimpers.
"That's better. Now, where's the street rat who thinks he can afford a slave?"
"he's over there boss" Points the man, holding a shackle.
Damn it! I'm buying her from Achibach!?
Achibach, the 16 year-old, shows no sign of recognizing Skip. Skip sighs in relief.
"Come into my office, we will negotiate the sale"
Skip follows Achibach through a door and into the room, where Achibach's love of slavery is obvious. A slave tends a kitchen, while another brings in wood to fuel the stove. Another slave tends to cleaning the room, to the amusement of two men who keep spilling their drinks. there was even a slave Spit-polishing the desk, who Achibach promptly waves away. He pulls papers out of a drawer, and sets them on the desk.
He brushes dust off of them.
"She'll run you... 20 boranze"
"Really? you could have just said one silver piece" Says Skip, drawing a silver piece from his pouch. He slides it across the desk to Achibach. he snatches it. Skip signs the papers, replenishing the ink when needed.
"It'll run you another piece for a slave shackle"
"I can do without"
"Fine. but first, she needs to be taught a lesson"
Achibach wraps cloth around his hands, and grabs a tasseled whip from the wall
beside him. the ends of the tassels are stained with something anyone can imagine. I'll give you a hint: When dried, it becomes crusty. it is a deep red, and is found naturally in your body.
"What are you doing?" asked Skip, following, putting papers into his pack.
"Naughty pets need to be treated as such. you wouldn't understand, boy"
This time in the alley, Skip noticed something. a set of four shackles were built into a wall. The men seemed to have known what Achibach was doing, and brought out Poppy. when she was brought to the shackles she realized what was happening. she tried to fight it, but the man clamped on the control shackle, eliminating all resistance. the other guy locked her into the wall shackles. they both backed off, and Achibach wound up his arm.
Crack! Poppy cried out as the whip cracked
Crack! again, another cry
Crack! This time, she whimpered
She collapsed, arms held up by the shackles the men released her, and removed the control shackle. her bare back was now coated in blood, and she was almost out of it
"Now take her and get"
"Wha- you can't really expect me to buy a bleeding Keidran!?"
"You signed the papers, she's yours. now get out of my alley" Achibach re-enters the office. the men take guard of the cages, whose occupants are silent, for fear of the whip.
Skip approaches Poppy slowly, she looks at him, face engulfed in pain.
<Wh-why?>
<Shhh... rest> he waves his hand over her, a blue fog appearing around his hand. She shuts her eyes, but pain still controls her expression. He calmly lifts her up on a magical stretcher. her back faces up, still bleeding.
Later...
Poppy rests in a tavern bed, back facing up. Skip has treated her wounds, and wrapped them. She slowly comes too, trying to remember what had happened. she rolls over. a tinge of pain clamped at her, but it was no-where close to the day before. still, she cried out and sat up swiftly.
where? where am I?
she asked herself rubbing her head. she looked around the room, trying to figure
out where she was. the walls where a light grey, a single bed, 1 chair, and one of those dresser/mirror thingies. Then Skip walked in the door, carrying a small tray. there was a drink and a small meal on it, the smell already teasing Poppy. the last time she'd had a warm meal was years ago.
Skip set the tray on the nightstand beside the bed.
<Morning> he says
<Morning?> Poppy says rubbing her wrists.
<where... where are my shackles?>
<I took em' off. they wouldn't have done anything for you> Says Skip, handing her a warm drink. she took it in her hands, gently sipping it. it was sweet but bitter, kind of reminding her of coffee. Skip offered the plate, which she took hungrily. she set herself upon the bacon and eggs, saving the applesauce.
Meanwhile, Skip sets to organizing his pack. He pulls the cracked crystal from his pocket. He sets it beside two unknown herbs, and then puts them all into a small bowl, and mashes them together into a lotion. it is turquoise, and slightly fogs.
Poppy picks up the applesauce and is about to eat it, but Skip stops her. He takes it and puts something in it.
<What did you just do?>
<Painkiller herb. it'll make sure what I do next doesn't hurt like hell>
<What is next?>
<I'm gonna have to unwrap you, and put this on> he says holding up the bowl. Poppy tentatively sniffs it. she gags from the smell.
<What is that?>
<A Keidran healer. I... learned it from a friend. it'll make sure the wound gets sealed and make sure you'll still have fur. though, I can't say whether the scars'll go away>
Poppy eats the applesauce, and licks her lips.
<Can you lay down on your front on the bed?> Poppy lays back down on the bed
<Why didn't you do this when I was asleep?>
<It would have hurt a lot more.> he gently begins to peel away the wrappings. Poppy twitches, tail giving a flick of pain.
<How long will it take to work?>
<About a few hours, but you'll be able to walk and do stuff. it won't hurt> Skip begins to rub in the lotion, careful not to push on the long slashes left behind from the whip.
<So where are we going, Master?>
Skip winced at being called master.
<Just call me Skip. My first thing will be getting your papers filed>
<Then what?>
<Dunno.>
<Then why'd you buy me?>
<I'd be lying if I told you I knew>
Confusion crosses her face, but she does not question him. she looks at Skip's pack while he continues to apply the lotion. something in it catches her eye.
<What's that?> she asked, pointing to a book written in Keidran.
<Huh?>
<Molaruna, the invisible city> reads Poppy
<oh, that. just a Keidran fairy tale> Said Skip, wrapping Poppy back up
At the trade office...
Skip sits at a desk, and Poppy stands beside him. the clerk hands a set of papers to Skip.
"Thank you" Skip looks over them. He had made copies of Poppy's papers, in exclusion of his signature. He hands his pack to Poppy
"Can you sew?"
"Yes sir"
"Can you sew the strap back?"
"I will sir"
Poppy sets to sewing while a dark 16-year old presence watches.
What are they doing?
When Poppy finishes, she hands the pack back.
"Thank you" Says Skip, plopping a silver coin in her hand.
"Huh?"
Skip whispers into her ear, "Just play along"
She nods, but still has no idea what's happening
"Now hand me the coin"
"uhm... okay" she says handing the coin back, confusion once again instilling itself in her.
"And sign these" Said Skip, handing her the papers.
"I only can sign in Keidran" she said, handing them back
"I can read Keidran, so you can sign them," Said Skip, handing them back to her.
The dark presence realizes what Skip is doing, and he is filled with rage.
He can't do that!
The presence slinks back to his office and rallies his men, bringing forth cries of anger and swords. the cries of grown men outraged at the actions of a singular teenager fill the streets.
"Here." Poppy hands the now signed papers to Skip. he hands them to the clerk. the clerk adjusts his glasses and reads the papers.
"Congratulations Poppy" Said Skip, putting his pack back on
"Congratulations what?"
"You just bought yourself. so, you're free"
"One Poppy, sold to... Poppy" reads the clerk
"And that makes it official"
Poppy just sits there, letting it all sink in.
I-I'm free!? just like that?
Crash! Skip turns around to see a rock amidst a smashed window. the clerk is frantic
"This is my store! I-" a rock nails him in the forehead. He collapses, eyes a pair of xs.
"Crap!" Skip narrowly dodges a rock, stealing a glimpse out the broken window. a
mob rushes to them, led by Achibach. Skip ducks, and crawls to Poppy, who is still sitting in shock.
<hey. you still want to be free?> asked Skip, dodging another rock
<Is... is this a joke?>
<Does it look like one? I mean, would I really send a hoard of men after myself just because I freed a slave?>
<No>
<Then grab my arm and we can get out of here!> she didn't know where they were going to go. the whole building was surrounded!
<There's no-where to go!> She said as she grabbed his arm in fear
<There is somewhere we can go!> then, the process of teleportation started. they began to fragmentate into pixels, starting from their feet and quickly working it's way up, until they are gone.
(I only know that he isn't bald, and has no beard, and only 'natural' colors for everyone, nothing like blue, green or purple)